The small town of Taurianova, located in the Gioia Tauro plain within the province of Reggio Calabria, has been selected as the Capital of the Book 2024. The decision was finalized by the Jury of the Ministry of Culture, led by Pierfranco Bruni and including members Incoronata Boccia, Gerardo Casale, Antonella Ferrara and Sara Guelmi. The selection of Taurianova was based on the impressive potential of their project proposal.
Taurianova’s project was lauded for its ability to leverage cultural, material, immaterial and valuable infrastructures to stimulate growth and rejuvenation in a small-town setting. The project’s potential to extend its beneficial impact to surrounding regions was also highly regarded. However, the selection process has come under scrutiny from the mayors of the four other finalist cities, who are calling for the suspension of the selection and proclamation procedure. Furthermore, it was revealed that Taurianova’s selection was prematurely announced by the undersecretary of the League, Claudio Durigon.
Lucia Borgonzoni, the Undersecretary of Culture, stated that the decision to choose Taurianova was influenced by numerous factors. However, the most significant factor was the potential for the project to reclaim a territory from crime. She emphasized that culture is an invaluable tool for promoting legality, fostering social and economic revitalization of communities, and eradicating all forms of mafia.
Controversy Arises
Despite the positive reception of Taurianova’s project, the selection process has sparked controversy. The mayors of the four finalist cities (Trapani, San Mauro Pascoli, Tito and Grottaferrata) have requested a suspension of the proclamation procedure, arguing that Taurianova’s selection as the Italian Book Capital 2024 was politically motivated.
The mayors, in a jointly but individually sent note to the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, expressed their concerns and indicated that they may seek access to the documents to evaluate the possibility of an appeal. They argued that the selection process should be based purely on the technical merits of the project proposals, rather than political considerations.
Furthermore, the mayors highlighted that the announcement of Taurianova’s selection was prematurely disclosed by the undersecretary of the League, Claudio Durigon, based on information from the mayor of Taurianova, Roy Biasi. This raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the selection process.
The mayors are now seeking a suspension of the selection procedure for further analysis, emphasizing the gravity of the matter given the large sum of public money (500,000 euros) allocated for the winner of the competition.
Despite the controversy, the mayors also acknowledged the importance of supporting regions affected by crime and underdevelopment. However, they questioned the appropriateness of using a competition of this nature to address such issues.
The mayor of Grottaferrata, Mirko Di Bernardo, expressed his disappointment with the way the final decision was communicated and called for further investigation to ensure the integrity of the procedure.
Similarly, the mayor of Tito, Graziano Scavone, expressed hope for an urgent meeting with the Minister of Culture to clarify doubts about the selection process.
Bruni: “We Followed the Criteria of the Decree, No Fear of Appeals”
In response to the controversy, Pierfranco Bruni, president of the Jury, maintained that the selection process was conducted appropriately and in accordance with the criteria of the decree. He stated that all appeals are welcome and that the Jury has no fear of them. He revealed that Taurianova was unanimously selected by the Jury on February 6th, based on the positivity and potential development elements of their project proposal.
Bruni reiterated that the verdict will not change and that the Minister of Culture has already made his decision.
